Court rules GM treated Christian fairly

Charles Wilson, The Associated Press

Published 10:00 pm, Sunday, January 1, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS -- A General Motors program that allows Hispanics, blacks or lesbians -- but not Christians -- to organize in employee groups is not committing religious discrimination, a federal court has ruled.

GM's Affinity Group diversity program does not discriminate against Christians because it treats all religions equally, the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Thursday in Chicago.

The court upheld a decision by a federal judge in Indianapolis, where the original lawsuit was filed by John Moranski, a born-again Christian who works for GM.

Moranski applied in December 2002 to start an interdenominational Christian employees group as part of the diversity program. GM rejected the application because Affinity Groups are not allowed to promote religion, court documents state. Moranski filed a federal lawsuit claiming religious discrimination.

Judge Ann Claire Williams disagreed. "General Motors's Affinity Group policy treats all religions alike," Williams wrote. "It excludes them all from serving as the basis of a company-recognized Affinity Group."